ANNUAL MEETING* OF THE N. Y. STATE AG. SOCIETY. 
95 
vation is commenced. Bat even these imperfectly 
effect the object designed, for wherever the porosity 
of the soil admits the passage of the water, its ele¬ 
vated head frequently raised high above the level 
of the earth, presses through all its interstices and 
brings to the surface an excess of • moisture which 
is fatal to the highest success of the crop. This is 
the more to be deprecated, as the floods are most 
frequent from May to July, when the crops are on 
the ground, the necessary consequence of the long 
time required by the freshets in the remote tributa¬ 
ries in reaching their ultimate outlets. 
It would seem, from a superficial glance at the 
subject, that underdraining by tiles; laid as deep as 
drainage can be effected, communicating with the 
main surface drains, would be the most effectual 
method of removing the surplus water. These 
being laid below the reach of the plow, and thus 
neither’occupying the surface nor impeding cultiva¬ 
tion, could be placed sufficiently near to accomplish 
the purpose effectually. If to this improvement 
could be added dykes or levees on the lower sides, 
pierced at proper intervals by outlets for the passage 
of the water when it would thus admit of its es¬ 
cape ; or when from its rise on the lower side, j 
which sometimes occurs, this is impracticable, then 
by closing the outlets and resorting to the use of a 
steam-engine, it can be artificially removed. The 
object seems attainable in no other way. 
This improvement would justify the use of the 
subsoil plow in all soils, and with great advantage 
to the crop. Even without thorough draining, it 
has been found of great benefit wherever the subsoil 
is porous and admits an escape of the surplus 
water; but in particular formations, where an ad¬ 
hesive day prevents its ready drainage, and it thus 
accumulates in the loosened earth below, a positive 
injury has been found, here as elsewhere, to follow 
its use. Although this plow has been but recently 
introduced here, many planters have given it a 
practical trial, and the general result, so far as 
coming within my notice, has been decidedly favor¬ 
able to its general introduction and use. 
There is a manifest and increasing attention to 
the subject of introducing new and improved agri¬ 
cultural implements, among the most intelligent 
planters in this section, and such seem disposed to 
give them a fair trial. The want of personal skill 
and attention on the part of many proprietors, how¬ 
ever, renders this trial and their unquestionable 
adaptedness to the object proposed, less satisfactory 
to them than their intrinsic merits fairly entitle them 
to. Among these improvements, none have been 
so conspicuous as those in the plow, the first and 
most important of the agricultural tools; and the 
introduction of better machinery for expressing the 
juice of the cane, and its more economical and per¬ 
fect granulation. The coarse, ill shapen, imperfectly 
made plow of former years, is rapidly giving place 
to a much neater, more perfectly made, and enduring 
implement, that will more effectually accomplish 
the object, and at a greatly reduced expenditure of 
team labor ; while the recent improvements in sugar 
making, when fully perfected and generally adopt¬ 
ed, are destined immeasurably to increase the pro¬ 
duct and swell the profits of the cultivation of this 
■ leading and important staple of the wide spread 
delta of the Mississippi. R. L. Allen. 
New Orleans , Feb. 1st , 1847. 
(a) The extent of territory periodically inundated 
by the river Parana is estimated at 36,000 square 
miles. 
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE NEW YORK 
STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
The annual meeting of this Society was held in the 
Assembly Chamber in Albany, on the 20th of January 
last. Our reporter promptly forwarded us a full account 
of the same at the time ; but by the delay of the Ex¬ 
press in not delivering it immediately on his arrival in 
this city, it came to hand too late to be inserted in our 
last number. 
J. M. Sherwood, of Cayuga, the President, assumed 
the chair, and Luther Tucker acted as Secretary. 
Mr. Enos offered a resolution appointing a commit¬ 
tee to request the Legislature to continue the appropri¬ 
ation to the State and County Societies, cut off - by the 
new Constitution. 
Benjamin Enos, of Madison; B. P. Johnson, of 
Oneida; and Luther Tucker, of Albany, were ap¬ 
pointed said committee. 
|" Mr. Allen, of Erie, called up the resolution of last 
year, declaring ex-Presidents ex officio members of the 
Executive committee. 
After some debate, the resolution was unanimously 
adopted. 
Mr. Allen remarked that the Constitution of the So¬ 
ciety required the election of one Vice President from 
each Senatorial district. The new State Constitution 
had increased the Senate districts, and he gave notice 
of an amendment of the Constitution of the Society, to 
appoint one Vice President from each Judicial Circuit. 
Mr. McIntyre, the Treasurer, read his report, show¬ 
ing the following receipts and expenditures for the past 
year:— 
RECEIPTS. 
Balance per last report,. $546.21 
Memberships at annual meeting,.. 137.00 
William Buell,life membership,. 50.00 
Memberships at various times,. 10.00 
Dividend on Mohawk bonds,. 105.00 
Interest on bond and mortgage,. 70.00 
Receipts at Auburn Show,. 4,333.17 
Joseph Fellows, for Pultney estate,. 50.00 
State payment,. 700.00 
Interest on Mohawk bonds,. 105.00 
Transactions sold,. 5.00 
Interest on bond and mortgage,... 70.00 
$6,181.38 
PAYMENTS. 
Premiums paid,. $1,599.43 
Expenses at Auburn,. 710.82 
Salaries paid,. 706.00 
Sundry expenses,. 630.71 
Invested in bond and [mortgage,. 2,000.00 
Balance in hand, 534.42 
$6,181.38 
The following gentlemen were then elected officers 
for the ensuing year:— 
President —George Vail, of Troy ; Vice Presidents , 
1st District—Wm. T. McCoun, New York ; 2d, John 
A. King, Jamaica ; 3d, C. N. Bement, Albany ; 4th, 
Samuel Qheever, Stillwater ; 5th, O. C. Chamberlain, 
Richfield Springs; 6th, Eli C. Frost, Catherine; 7th, 
H. S. Randall, Cortlandville; 8th, W. Buell, Rochester. 
